Ornamenting shoe uppers by step-by-step branding



' 1,553,397, W, "in ammzms ORNAMENTING SHOE 'UPPERS BX STEP-BY-STEP BRANDING Filad Aug. 14 a 1923 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 15, W25. W. T. a. ROBERTS ORYEAMENTIEJG' SHCE UFPERS BY STEP-BY-STEP BRANDING Filed Aug. 14 1923 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZAU /NVENTL7R Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

* UNITED STATES PATENT, curios.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS, 0F LEICESTER, ENGLANI), ASSIGN OR TO.

UNITED SHOE MACHINERY coaroaArIoN, or rarssson, NEW JERSEY, A code PORATION or nnwzrnnsny.

ORNAMENTING SHOE UPPERS BY STEP-BY-S'IEP BR-ANDING.

Application filed August 14, 1923. Serial No. 657,387.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM T. B; ROB- ER'IS, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Ornamenting Shoe Uppers by Step-by-Step Branding, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to apparatus for ornamenting leather or the like, and while it Will be particularly described in its rela tion to the operation of ornamenting the marginal portions of boot or shoe uppers,"

such as toe"caps, itshould be understood that it is also applicable to the ornamentterial which usually involves over-lapping to a considerable degree the adjoining parts of uppers and'entails a substantial consump-' tion of leather purely for the sake of back ing the holes in the perforated pattern.

Moreover when the upper is perforated itis' correspondingly and very substantially weakened locally and if there is to be no undue distortion, let alone rupture, of the perforated part in consequence of the lasting strains the perforated section has usually to be confined between rows of reinforcing stitching. The section of upper thus confined is however, especially if it be the margin of a toe cap, subject to much flexure during wear of the shoe and is apt to become unsightly because of the "localized creasing and bulging which then maybe set between the stitching lines and which may in the course of but a short while so chafe the perforated parts that the leather between adjacent perforations cracks and the shoe acquires a shabby appearance.

Then

One objectof the invention is to provide an improved machine which will overcome all these various disadvantages of orna' mentation by perforatlon, said machlne being arranged for ornamenting by embossing or branding, which produces the desiredpattern without the upper being of necessity penetrated to any considerable degree.

In its illustrated 'form the invention is exemplified in a machine wherein the work is fed step-by-step automatically past a reciprocating heated patterned branding tool,

which in the course of successive reciprocations impresses .thepattern into the work at successive points so as to form a bandof ornamentation.

An important feature of the invention relates to the work supporting device whereby a uniform impressionof the branding tool is insured. To this end a work supporting bed directly beneath the operating tool. is resiliently held in a hemispherical bearing.

Other featuresof the invention reside in the novel arrangement of the work feeding mechanism. In the illustrated arrangement the work is fed by being grasped between a feed foot and the Work support, bothof which are laterally movable and are pivoted on a vertical axis to facilitate operation upon curved work.

The invention willjbe' more fully understood from a consideration of the machine shown in the accompanying drawings, in which a I Fig.- liis a side elevation of a portion of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; J

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the edge gauge and a nism;

Fig. 3 is an'end view partly in section showing the 'WOlk supporting bed and the work feeding. mechanism;

Fig. 4 1s a side elevation, from the same portion oflthe work feeding mechaposition as that of Fig. 1, ofthe feed foot carrying mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section showing in detail the presser foot arrangement.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 640,426, granted Jan. 2, 1900, on the application of C. P. Stanbon, to which reference is made for the illustration and description of those detailsof the operating meclr.

showninrthe patent in: that it i s-extended laterally at 20' andprovided with adovetailed slot' to: allow for theinsertion ofthe brandingtool 2 2, This tool=may convenient; 1y be held'in placebya latch- 24 pressed to wardv the front of the machine by means ofa spring 26 and'capableof being withdrawn by engagement withalug 28-: For-the purpose of heating the tool an electric cartridge unit 30 is'm -unted in the lower end 20" of tlieplunger 14 and may. be supplied with electricity through the leads 32:

Rotation of the c am} shaft= '12- will,- therefore,- cause the branding tool to be recip'r'o cated and to repeat its patternfat predetermined intervals in theworh asthe same isv fed forward through} the machine. 7 The work feedingmemberscomprise broadly upper and; lower slides 40' and 60 which} are provided with dove tai-ledconnections to the frame of the machineto allow horizontal movement thereof across the frontof 'the machine in the direction of the feeding movement ofthe WOlk'.

In the preferred? embodiment of the machine the upperfeeding member 40 isprovided with'a vertical bore ifn which there is mounted asleevetQ- (Fig. 4) adj-ust'ably held in position by means of a nut 44; and this sleeve serves as a guide for: aphmger 46 (Figs. 1 and 23) carrying at its lower-end a feed foot 4:8. This feed foot is pivotally mounted on the plunger and is retained thereon by means of a} screw 50 ig. 4), the lowerlimit of its movement being determined by means of set nuts 52? "'lfhis' feed foot ha s az'four-way motion imparted to it by mechanism like that described in the Stanbon patent above referred to, and the feedingdi'stance: is; adjustable in the manner disclosed in: that patent: A spring; 54 no'r mally presses the feed foot toward the work, and the: plunger is lifted by cam-operated mechanism not herein. shown but which is described in said Stanbon patent. Lateral movement oft'heslides 40 and; 60 is secured as insaid Stanbonpatent by means of acam-operated lever pivoted on the frame of the machine and connected by links 72 and 7 b to: the uppen and lower'slidesmespee tively. 'l hefe'ed foot 48 is? arranged tod eshoulders scend upon the work close to the branding tool, and for that purpose its lower end is inclined under; the lower; end '20: of: the lunger 1 1 which carries the tool as shown in ig. 3. In order that the pivoting of the feed foot 48 may not be impeded b -any .jamm-ingaactiom saidtfeed footmay also be tact with an edge gauge so as to keep thef ornamentation ata constant distancefrom the edge ofthe work; This necessarily results in causing a lateral displacement of the line-of feed and may be effected while the feedfoot48 is in contact with the work.

In order that, under such circumstances; the feed foot may be returned to its original; position for the next feeding movemenft,- shoulders 84c are provided on the upper end of-the feed foot adjacent to its pivot-alc on nection to the plunger46; Corresponding} 86 are 1 provided upon a blockmounted'in a bracket- 88 rigidly attached'to the frame of the machine WVhen the feed foot is returned'to starting position, one or the other of these shoulders 8% will contact with the. corresponding shoulder during the latter part-of the return movement and willt-ur-n' the foot back to its 0riginal' position beforeit descends to re-engage the work, as illustratediin Figz;

The lower work feeding slide 60 is provided with a vertical bore to receive'the shank 62 of a cup-shaped member 64-, said shank being supported on a ball 61;, Threaded into this cup is a sleeve 66' provided with a hemispherical; recess to receive the correspondingly shaped part ofa work supporting-bed 68. The upper surface of the sleeve 66- is-roughened the better to en 68 is provided with a dependingstem'7'1' which passes through a hole at the bottom of the hemispherical recess somewhat larger than the size of said" stem, and a springis gage the worln The work supporting bed I mounted around this stempressing against thickness of the work and thus avoid any uneven marking of the work by the branding tool.

In the present machine an additional work-controlling member is provided in the form of a presser foot which acts tohold thework stationary except while it is being fed. This foot 90 is formed upon the lower end of the lever 92 pivoted at 94: on the frame of the machine and normally held against the work by means of a spring 96 (Figs. 1 and The lower end of the lever isguided between lugs 98 (Figs. 1 and 3) formed on the bracket 88, and a special cam 100 onthe shaft 12 is arranged in position to' engage the upper endof the lever 92 and lift the presser foot9O from the work when the work is being fed forward. An additional lever 102 is Connected to the usual manually operated finger piece 104: of the form described in said Stanbon patent, and said lever102 is so arranged that actuation of the finger piece 104 to lift the feed foot 48 willalso lift the presser foot 90 to allow the insertion of work into the machine.

an edge gauge 110 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 isprovided to assist in guiding the work to the tool andto insure the placing of the orna'mentations at aneven distance from the edge of the work. This gauge isfformed upon the forward end of a plate 112 which is adjustably secured to the table 114 of the machine by a wing screw 116. The forward end, of the edge gauge is provided with a spring finger 120 arranged to rest lightly upon the work to hold the work in contact with the work plate. The distance of the under side of the finger 120 from the'work table may be adjusted, in accordance with the thickness of the work being operated upon, byactuation of a. screw 122 threaded in alugof the edge gauge supporting member 112. Adjustment of this screw after slackening the wing screw 116 will turn the member 112 about its rear edge 124 to raise or lower the linger 120. I

I11 the operation of the machine, after the branding tool has been properly heated, the feed foot 18 and the presser foot 90 are lifted by the actuation of the finger piece 104 and the work inserted beneath the branding tool with its edge in contact with the edge gauge 110 and resting beneath the spring finger 120.. When the machine is set in motion, the branding tool will be reciprocated and the work fed forward step-bystepinmuch the same manner as the work is fed in the machine of the Stanbon patent. Varying with the class of leather and the time during which and the pressure with which the hot tool remains on the work at each operation, there is obtained an ornamentation whlch may vary from a. mere searing of the grain or the surface of the leather to a deeply burned-in and clearly defined imfoot 418 raised.

pression penetrating all but through the leather. This ornamentation will be repeated along a predetermined line, and the machine may be stopped by means of itsonerevolution clutch at a definite point in the cycle of operations with the branding tool out of contact with the work and the feed If desired, the impression may be filled in, in color, by washing over the surface of the work with some suitable pigment or enamel, wiping 01f all the excess which remains on the surface of the Work.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is 1. In a machine of the class. described having a reciprocable branding tool, a work support provided with a fractional section located immediately beneath the too-l, said section being mounted fortilting movement to compensate for variations in thethlckness of the work to ensure an even action of having a reciprocable branding tool, a work support having a fractional section located in the path of the tool which'is mounted for tilting movementto compensate for variations in the thickness of the work to provide an even resistance to the. pressure of the tool, and a spring arranged'to return said tilting section to the plane of the balance of the work support.

.3. In a machine "of the class described having a reciprocable tool and a mechanism for feeding the work, said feeding mechanism including means for supporting the work movable back and forth in the direction of feed and comprising a section mounted in the path of the tool constructed and arranged to pivot substantially about the axis of the tool during the feeding movement of the work.

4. In a machine of the class described having a reciprocable tool, a work feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting the work including a. divided fractional section located in the path of the tool, said section being constructed and arranged for movement laterally during the feeding movement of the work and said section being pit 6.; In a machine of the class: described having a reciprocable tool and a work-sup;

port, feeding, mechanism including a. ment. ber movable in the plane-of said work support; said member" being constructed; and

arranged for rotation aboutian axis substantially parallel tothe axis ofgthe, tool and to tilt about a; plurality of. axes substantially.

" spherical work. supporting bed complemental to} said recessand provided "witha depending. stem passing. through and smaller than said-opening, a-ndiresili'ent means surrounding saidstemand bearing agamstthe first;-

named work support constructedand? ar-- rangedito maintain said second-named: work supportingbed substantially in. theplane of the first. work support.

8. In a machine of the:class described having work feeding mechanism comprising a feed foot adapted to be brought into and outof contact with the work, said feed foot being pivotally mounted with respect to said; feeding mechanlsm, means constructedand arranged to co-operate with said feet foot at one limit ofits path of mo-vementfor returning said feed foot to a predetermined position.

9. In a machine of-the classdescribed -having means for intermittently operating upon a pieceof work and means for intermittently feeding said work comprising a feed foot, said foot being pivotally mounted upon the feeding mechanism, a member located' at one extreme of the path of: movement of the feeding means constructed and arranged to co-operate with said foot to return the same to its original posltion when ever it reaches this limit of its feeding move- Q ment.

10. In a machine of the class described, intermittent means for operating upon a piece of work, mechanism for intermittently feeding said work comprising a reciprocable feeding member located beneath the work, co-operating feeding means located above the work, said first named feeding means comprising a section constructed and arranged to turn about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the work.

11. In a machine of the class described, means for intermittently operating upon the work, and means for feedingthe work com: prising reciprocable members located above and below the work, each of said members being provided with. a work-engaging. member pivotally mounted for movement about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the work.

.12. In a machine of the class described,

masses.

work feeding meanscomprising .a reciprocar' ble member, supporting .means mounted; on said reciprocable member for vertica1,move-.; menti subst ntially at. right; angles to the the. direction of reciprocation, a; work engaging foot pivotally mounted upon, the. lower end of said supportingmember, and; a vertical brace rigidly connected; at its, lower end to said-work engagingfoot and-i pivotallyn-com ectecb at its. upper. end O-. 16; veitically movable supporting means, said; bracebeing constructed and arranged to as sist insupporting saidwork engagingfoom for free pivotalamovement;

18'. In a. machine of; the, class described; having a work supportingtable, a, work feeding mechanism comprising. a, slide mounted for reciprocation parallel tothe plane of thetable along the direction ofithe lineiof feed, a. plunger, carried bysaidi slide arranged for movement. towardfa-nd away. fromthe work table, and. a feed foot pivot ally supported on said: plungerv extending laterally therefrom substantially in the.di-- rection of the. line of feed.

14. In a machine of the class described having a work supporting table, a work feeding mechanism comprising; "a. slide mounted for reciprocation parallel to the plane of the table along the direction of the lineoffeed, a plunger carried-by said slide arranged or movement toward and; away from the work table, a. feed foot pivotally supported on said plunger extending laterally therefrom substantiallyin the direction, of the line of' feed, and means cooperating with saidfpivoted feed foot to returnthe same to its original position at the end: of" each feeding movement.

15. In a machine of the class described, feeding mechanism comprising a pivotally supported work engaging feed foot, said feed foot being provided with shoulders at either side of its pivotal; axis and means rigidly sup-ported upon said machine constructed and arranged to engage said shoulders atone limit of the feedingmovement to return the feedfoot to a predetermined position.

16. In a machine ofthe class described having feeding mechanism comprising a feed foot arranged intermittently to engage the upper surface ofthe work, power-operated means for imparting a four-way motion to saidfeed foot, a work supporting table, and a presser foot resiliently engaging the upper surface of the work to 'holdit, against the table, said power-operated means being constructed and arranged automatically to' lift-said presser foot "during the feeding movement. i

17. In'a machine of the class described, an edge gauge proigided w ith a resilent finger engaging the upper surface work, means for supporting said edge gauge com prising a member extending in angular relation to the length of said finger, means for clamping said supporting member in position, and a screw for rotating said supporting member about one edge to lift said resilient finger to accommodate pieces of Work of different thickness.

18. In a machine of the class described having means for intermittently operating upon the Work, Work guiding and controlling mechanism comprising reciprocable feed ing members located above and below the Work and arranged to have pivoted movement about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the Work, and an edge guiding and controlling device comprising a gage member provided With a finger adapted to overhang the upper surface of the edge of the Work, said guiding member having means for adjusting the level of the finger including means for rotating the guiding member about one edge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKlNGl-IAM ROBERTS. 

